React and React Native
As the word REACT is a very commonly speaking topic among IT people, today I am here to let you know about two technologies: React and React Native.
Are you confused between React and React Native? Are you thinking which one is better to learn first? If so, invite you to read my article.
First, I will give you a quick understanding of how these technologies are introduced to the world. In 2011, an engineer from Facebook organization, used XHP which is a component library in Html for PHP, to create FaxJs. It could be introduced as the first prototype designed under ReactJs. Then in the same year, marking a huge leap, they deployed Reactjs for Facebook timeline, and when it came to 2012 as Instagram was also acquired by the Facebook company, they deployed Reactjs for the Instagram timeline as well. This was caused to have a big significance to develop the React Native as a framework and with a short time period, the world recognized the emergence of two of the most powerful technologies in the IT industry.
What exactly is ReactJs?
First, you should remember that ReactJS is often referred to as React, and React is a library, NOT A FRAMEWORK. The difference between library and framework is, that a library can provide helps only in one aspect whereas a framework can provide its services in many aspects.
React is a javascript library for building User Interfaces. It is an efficient and flexible open-source javascript library for building simple and scalable frontends of web applications. However, this technology supports both the frontend and server-side.
Remember, when thinking MVC framework, ReactJs is just the View part of it.
Advantages of working with React :
World huge companies like Apple, Netflix, Dropbox, and Paypal have already started using ReactJs to implement their software products. The reason is following key advantages provided by this technology.
- React is easy to learn
React is easily readable and understandable for those who are not familiar with this technology. Though most of the other frameworks need the knowledge of an extensive list of concepts, React is not. That’s why everyone says that it is easy to learn.
2. React has the ability to bring a blazing fast speed.
React can bring in blazing fast speed for the developed applications and websites, because of the DOM. Due to the virtual DOM(Document Object Model) of React, it is faster than conventional full refresh models. How it happens is, always React creates an in-memory data structure cache to compute the resulting differences and update the DOM in the browser without any interruption. Then, when the programmer writes the code the way the entire page is rendered for each change, but in reality, only the modified sub-components are displayed. So this increases the performance and faster programming.
3. React allows writing custom components.
React has a component-based architecture and it allows to reuse of the code components. This feature saves an enormous amount of time.
4. React is SEO-friendly.
As React is supportable for server-side rendering, when rendering a complete page from the server to the browser, it improves the SEO[Search Engine Optimization] of the application or webpage.
5. React helps to build rich and flexible UIs.
As React is highly flexible and it has the above-mentioned specific features, always the output of React is very rich and perfect.
6. React causes to uplift developer’s productivity.
As React comes with a very useful developer toolset of design, develop and debugging tools and it offers code stability, it makes the developer’s life easier. Therefore it causes to uplift developer’s productivity.
What exactly is React Native?
React native is a FRAMEWORK for building native applications using Javascript. It is a cross-platform mobile framework, using ReactJs to build applications and websites. “A 2019 Stack Overflow survey found that React Native was the sixth most popular framework amongst developers.’’
Native Apps?
Native apps live on the device and are accessed through icons on the device home screen. They are installed through an application store (such as Google Play ,Apple’s App Store). They are developed specifically for one platform, and can take full advantage of all the device features.
React Native compiles to native app components in order to make it possible for developers to build native mobile applications.
React, the base abstraction of React DOM for web applications and the base abstraction of React Native as well. Therefore, when comparing React Native with ReactJs, the syntax and workflow remain the same but the components are different for each.
Note this , ReactJS implements components under React Native and React Native implements ReactJs under its framework.
Advantages of working with React Native :
Same as ReactJs, most of the world-famous companies like Facebook, Uber Eats, Skype and Pinterest use React Native to implement their software products. The reason is the following key advantages provided by this framework.
- Provide platform-specific codes
The main benefit of using React Native is the ability to generate platform-specific codes. When the code is run, this framework can automatically detect the platform you are using. So that, it may generate the specific code for the specific platform.
2. Take less time to develop
As, this supports the hot reload feature, which gives freedom to the developer to reload the mobile app automatically, it saves lots of time and eases the development process.
3. Ready to use UI libraries
React Native ecosystem has component UI libraries. So developers can use them for smoothing the UI.
4. Even front-end web developers can create apps using this.
To work with React Native, all they need is knowledge and practice about JavaScript(ReactJs), platform APIs, and some native UI elements. Therefore it says, this has a very easy learning curve and so, even non-programmers can create apps without much effort. Thus, this allows most front-end web developers to be mobile developers.
Key Differences
- Reactjs is a JavaScript library, which allows the programmer to create an engaging and high-performing UI Layer, while React Native is an entire framework for building cross-platform apps(web, iOS, or Android).
- Reactjs applications render HTML in UI, while React Native uses JSX for rendering UI, which is full of javascript.
- CSS is used for creating styling in Reactjs, while stylesheet is used for styling in React Native.
Conclusion
If you want to build a high-performing and responsive UI for web interfaces, the best option is to use Reactjs, while if you want to create mobile apps with a truly native feeling, the best option is to use React Native.
And, as React.js is the heart of React Native, it consists of all React’s principles and syntax, it is better to learn ReactJs at first. But it will depend on your necessity.
Thank you!